My Soul to Take
Page 77

And thats when everything changed. The feel of the room abruptly shifted, as if all the angles had changed, the proportions recalibrated. It was like watching a movie with the screen ratio all messed up.
A slim, dark figure appeared in the middle of the weird-looking living room, only feet from my father and uncle, across the room from Sophies body.
I recognized her instantly from Merediths memorial. Marg. She still wore the same long black sweater, cut to accentuate her slight figure, and soft ballet-style slippers, now half-sunk into my aunts thick pile carpet.
The reaper spared me a glance and frowned, then dismissed me and turned toward Aunt Val. I could see only a sliver of the reapers face now, but that was plenty. Are you sure? she asked, her voice like molten metal, smooth and slow-flowing, but hot enough to singe at a touch.
I was so surprised to hear her that I almost stopped singing, and Sophies soul began to drift toward Marg. Then Nash squeezed my hand and my voice strengthened. Sophies soul steadied once more.
The reaper didnt seem to notice. She was watching my aunt, who was saying something else I couldnt hear. I could only hear Marg, which meant the reaper hadnt forgotten about methat for some reason, she wanted me to hear what she was saying.
Aunt Val nodded firmly in response to the reapers question, her lips moving rapidly.
The reaper studied her for a moment, then shook her head, and what little I could see of her mouth curved into a slow, malicious smile. Your soul will not suffice, Marg said, her voice trailing over me with an almost physical presence. You promised Belphegore young, beautiful souls, and like your body, your soul is aging and blemished. She will not accept it.
My aunt was speaking again, gesturing angrily, and her husband flinched all over at something she said, fists still clenched in effort. Again I desperately wished I could hear both sides of the argument.
We reached no agreement on the specific souls to be harvested, the reaper said, and chills popped up on my arms. Just listening to her was going to kill me. I have collected the first four, in spite of piddling interference from your young minions
Minions? She did not just call me a minion!
and Ill have the fifth when I tire of this game. I will have your money, Belphegore will have her souls, and you will have youth and beauty like you never imagined.
Youth? Aunt Val had hired a reaper to poach innocent souls in exchange for her youth? Could anyone truly be so vain?
Aunt Val was shouting now, the veins standing out in her slim neck. But Marg only laughed. I am in possession of four young, strong souls, and while I hold them, half a dozen bean sidhes couldnt take this one from me. To demonstrate, she waved one hand inthe air, palm up. Pain ripped through my chest, and Sophies soul rose a foot higher in spite of my song and the efforts of my father and uncle to guide it.
Nash stood then, and added his best to the group effort, his face flushing with the strain.
Sophies soul bobbed, then sank slightly, but would go no farther.
The reaper whirled around then, turning her back on my aunt to focus her fury on me and Nash. You
I shook harder with each step she took toward me, and my voice began to warble. I was losing it, and once the wail faded, there would be no soul for the men to guide.
Something is Her sweater flared out at the sides as she walked, giving her a larger, more intimidating presence than her small frame should have carried. Then her eyes narrowed as she studied me from mere feet away, while my heart tripped its way through a few more terrified beats. Her slow smile returned. You live someone elses life. Belphegore would surely love a taste of your borrowed life force. If you want to see the next days sun, shut your mouth and release that soul. Otherwise, your family will watch me feed you your own tongue before I take your soul in place of hers.
Her depraved smile broadened, and the sight of such normal, even white teeth in such a vicious face sent chills through me. And you will die in perfect silence, little one. There is no one left to sing your soul song.
I will sing for her. The voice was soft and lyrical, and as eerie in the odd silence as the reapers was. My head swiveled toward the source.
Tod stood in front of the closed front door. His feet were spread for an even stance, hands fisted at his sides, jaw clenched in fury. He looked ready to do battle with the devil himself, but Tods voice didnt match the one Id heard.
Someone stepped out from behind him, and my pulse raced in hope. Harmony Hudson. Nashs mother. And she looked pissed.
Can you hear me, hon? she asked, and I nodded, so grateful for her presence that I didnt think to question how shed known she was needed. Your voice is fadin, but I can sing all night. She faced Marg then, and seemed to stand taller. Youre not leaving with her soul. Or the other ones either, she said, glancing at Sophies soul where it still bobbed sluggishly in the air over her body.
Marg hissed like an angry cat, mouth open, teeth exposed, and for a moment I thought shed swipe at Nashs mother with a set of retractable claws. Then she seemed to collect herself. Youll fare no better than the child, Marg purred, slinking toward the entryway slowly. It will take more than three of your men to steal from me while I hold four strong souls in reserve.